Our vision is to become the ‘best loved platform for advisors’ and the Architecture team plays a crucial role in helping us navigate a major transformation programme and a series of transitional states to achieve this; whilst in parallel ensuring that we continue to support the near-term business strategy within the constraints of our existing solutions and capabilities.
As Business Architect you will develop an integrated view of the current enterprise and support the definition of the ‘target state’ design for at least one of the following strategic priorities:

Platform Transformation – providing business architecture across a significant transformation programme to develop and implement a new platform that underpins our various propositions; with the ambition that we create the ‘best loved platform for advisors’.
Change portfolios– provide support to the approved change portfolios through triage, feasibility and impact of all new significant change requests, architecting solutions that underpin these initiatives and working with the Change team to shape the strategic roadmap.
Acquisitions – representing Architecture in due diligence and integration design and planning for acquired businesses that underpin our inorganic growth agenda.

You will work principally at the macro level, designing the operating model, defining the art of the possible and create value support by influencing the focus and scope of change initiatives to align to strategic goals and objectives.
The Architecture function comprises of a small team within Nucleus and is part of the Technology function, they work with stakeholders at all levels and across all functions within the business; the team’s purpose and vision is:

Purpose: To translate the business strategy into guidelines and directions for delivery of transformational organisational change
Vision: To be trusted advisors across Nucleus and provide ‘critical thinking’ that enables successful execution of our strategy

Responsibilities
The key accountabilities for the role include:

Develop and maintain a broad and deep understanding of the marketplace in which the business currently operates (Pension) and the future market it wishes to extend into (Investment Platform).
Apply a structured business design approach and methodology for capturing the high-level views of the business units and investor / Advisor needs in the context of the strategic goals.
Develop and maintain a holistic view of the organisation to ensure that all elements impacted by a problem are considered.
Support project pre-initiation activities such as initial options, feasibility, business case, RFP reviews, vendor selections and high-level impact assessments.
Provide solution options and recommendations to solve business problems or meet business goals, with appropriate commercial considerations.
Provide architectural oversight to ensure appropriate solution vendors are selected to support business solutions, both internally and externally, ensuring strategic relationships are subsequently maintained.
Responsibility for the generation and maintenance of artefacts to define the as-is and to-be operating model (and any transition states).
Maintain the business capability reference model, mapping capability functionality to other architectural artefacts.
Design traceability matrix of business strategy to capabilities to processes.
Analyse current capability maturity and promote activities to develop capabilities and close gaps, e.g. local action plans in place – owned by business areas.
To provide SME / mentor support to Business Analysts and other members of the Change team to aid their development.
Participation in post implementation reviews with accountability for ensuring that function specific improvements are taken forward.

As part of working within Nucleus you will;

Take responsibility in everything you do to deliver good outcomes for our customers
Positively demonstrate the Nucleus Smart, Heart and Courage values and behaviours
Ensure compliance with Code of Conduct at all times

About you
You’ll enjoy working within a fast-paced environment that gives you the opportunity to use your strategic thinking skills to support the development of transitional and end-state solution design.
Creative and motivated, you’ll take great pride in your ability to act on your own initiative and remain flexible in the face of changing circumstances and priorities.
You’ll thrive when working as part of a diverse and supportive team, collaborating with your colleagues to share ideas and knowledge, and displaying you knack for relationship building with your peers and stakeholders.
Key Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours)

Previous experience working on large scale Change programmes.
Experience working with outsourced partners and third-party providers
Applying architectural principles to business solutions.
Planning and deploying Business and IT initiatives.
Modelling business processes using a variety of tools and techniques.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Able to communicate appropriately at all levels of the organisation; and maintain good relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
The ability to act as liaison between Business and Change functions to achieve common strategic goals.
Experience articulating and assessing benefit realisation criteria.
Team player able to work effectively at all levels of an organisation with the ability to influence others.
Continuous Learning: You should have a passion for learning, continuous improvement and staying up to date with industry trends and best practices.
You will be competent in using:
- MS Excel
- MS PowerPoint
- MS Word
- MS Teams
Desirable experience:
- Direct experience of a regulated industry with a strong preference for financial services industry experience.
- Accreditation / knowledge of Financial Services Industry, including WRAP Platforms & SIPPs.
- Technical certifications: such as TOGAF, ITIL, Prince 2 / APM, BCS BA Diploma.
- Other qualifications: Degree and/or MBA may be advantageous.

At Nucleus Financial Services, we are committed to providing a warm and inviting work environment, where our team members can thrive and grow.
A little about us 
We’re the Nucleus Financial Platforms group and we help make retirement more rewarding. People come first - whether it’s our colleagues, or the advisers and customers we support, we know that working in partnership and collaboration leads to the best outcomes. Together, we’ve shaped the platform to how it is today. We work hard, and we celebrate hard too. 
Our ambition is to create a platform with a difference, putting the customer centre stage meant tearing up the rule book and starting from scratch. We’ve come a long way since then, but our mission remains just as focused. That’s why our culture, values, and social responsibility are things we keep at the top of our agenda – because we know they matter and have a big impact. 
Our culture is one of the many things that sets us apart from the pack. We want to have an environment where our people feel that they can make a real difference, know they’ll be rewarded for their efforts and more importantly, enjoy themselves at work. 
Inclusion and diversity at Nucleus 
As with most things in life, who cares, wins. We really care about inclusion. 
For us it’s not a tick box exercise; inclusion and diversity are embedded in our culture and everything we do. It’s a commercial imperative. It isn’t about being PC. It’s about being future-relevant and durable. We owe it to ourselves and the industry to ensure we are playing our part in creating a fair, balanced and transparent financial services sector. 
More diversity means broader experience, a wider set of perspectives and a better collective ability to problem-solve. And it means being more representative of customer groups, which supports areas such as product development. 
At Nucleus, we offer a generous blend of benefits for the things that really matter to our people, including a non-contributory pension, bonus, enhanced parental leave, paid time off for emergencies, health and wellbeing initiatives and flexible working options. 

About the company

Nucleus Group provides investment platforms and wealth technology for UK financial advisers and their clients. Its main product is a wrap platform that merges a client’s assets (SIPPs, ISAs, and GIAs) into a single online account, with adviser tools for client management, model portfolios, bulk switches, rebalancing, and reporting, plus a client portal called Nucleus Go. It differentiates itself by focusing on adviser operational efficiency, not selling funds or providing investment advice, and by unifying multiple platforms through acquisitions to offer an adviser-centric platform solution. The company aims to help advisory firms run their business more efficiently and grow assets under administration by delivering scalable technology and platform services.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Founded

2006

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours
Performance Bonus
Parental Leave
Wellness Program

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

1 year growth

28%

2 year growth

28%

FinTech Futures

Sep 30th, 2026

Nucleus Financial names Dave Reynolds CTO as Jenny Thorpe prepares to depart.

Nucleus Financial names Dave Reynolds CTO as Jenny Thorpe prepares to depart. The incoming CTO will assume his role in early January 2027, where he will oversee technology, transformation, and change across the group. September 30, 2026 UK-based wealthtech Nucleus Financial has named Dave Reynolds its new chief technology officer (CTO). A company statement confirms that the appointment will come into effect "at the start of January", subject to regulatory approval. Reynolds will succeed Jenny Thorpe, who is set to leave Nucleus "at the end of 2026 to take up a new opportunity", the statement continues. Thorpe joined the wealthtech in late 2022 as chief business architect, before rising to CTO in February 2024. As CTO, Nucleus states that, in addition to leading the technology division, Reynolds will also oversee transformation and change across the group. He is set to join the wealthtech from Quilter, where he has spent the last eight years of his career. Initially serving as CTO, Reynolds shifted to group chief information officer in May 2023. Reynolds got his first experience as a technology executive during his seven-year stint at Old Mutual, when he was promoted to the position from IT architecture and governance director of Old Mutual Wealth in 2015. Elsewhere in his career, Reynolds also led technology teams at Hampshire County Council and Skandia. Since its founding in 2006, Nucleus Financial has grown to manage £117 billion in assets, providing financial advisers and wealth managers with wrap and adviser technology solutions, including client portfolio, investment, and pension management tools. Reporter, FinTech Futures Francis Bignell is a reporter at FinTech Futures with a keen interest in all things fintech, especially in the Latin America region. Writing in the industry for four years, he has moderated webinars and podcasts as well as interviewed executives from a wide range of sectors.

Money Marketing

Sep 29th, 2026

Quilter's Dave Reynolds to become Nucleus' new CTO.

Quilter's Dave Reynolds to become Nucleus' new CTO. Quilter's Dave Reynolds will join Nucleus Financial Platforms as its new chief technology officer (CTO) in January 2027. Reynolds will be part of the group's executive committee and replaces Jenny Thorpe, who will leave at the end of 2026 to take up a "new opportunity". Nucleus is extending the remit of the CTO role to include transformation and change, as well as technology, across the group. Reynolds has over two decades of senior-level experience working globally in the financial services sector. He is currently group chief information officer (CIO) at Quilter and was previously group chief technology officer for eight years. During his time at Quilter, he has driven the group technology strategy and overseen significant system modernisation and operational improvement. Nucleus Group CEO Richard Rowney said: "The fact Money Marketing can attract someone of Dave's experience is a sign of how far its group has come.

Money Marketing

Sep 28th, 2026

Nucleus CTO Peter Docherty to leave at end of year.

Nucleus CTO Peter Docherty to leave at end of year. Nucleus' Peter Docherty is to leave his role as chief transformation officer (CTO) at the end of the year after almost four years with the group. Docherty confirmed his departure in a LinkedIn post, saying he was leaving after a "significant milestone" had been hit. Reflecting on his time with the group, Docherty added: "The achievements across that period were due to the amazing colleagues that I had the opportunity to work with at both Curtis Banks and Nucleus, alongside the partners that were key to delivering that success, particularly over the last 18 months." Docherty joined Nucleus in January 2024 as group chief risk officer, while retaining his role as CEO of Curtis Banks. He later became chief transformation officer, leading the launch of FNZ OneX and the migration of James Hay customers. He has more than 20 years' experience in financial services and was previously CEO and managing director of Embark Platform. Before that, he was CEO and CRO of Alliance Trust Savings.

2Trom News Group

Sep 19th, 2026

Leading Businesses in London and the South East recognised for outstanding growth and innovation.

Leading Businesses in London and the South East recognised for outstanding growth and innovation. September 19, 2026 Businesses in London, Brighton, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire have won UK Private Capital Vision 2026 Awards for London and the South East. Sponsored by Grant Thornton and Santander, these annual awards honour the management teams of companies backed by private equity and venture capital, recognising the companies and their investors in different investment stages and across six categories: Early-Stage: Auddy, backed by Pembroke VCT, was chosen as the winner in the Early-Stage category. Auddy is a London-based audio communications and advertising technology business. Judges were impressed by the company's strong revenue growth, innovative use of AI and the development of its proprietary Campfire platform, which is creating a new category within enterprise communications and helping establish Auddy as a leader in a fast-growing market. Scale-Up: Vanda, backed by FPE, was chosen as the winner in the Scale-Up category. Vanda provides proprietary data and market intelligence to many of the world's leading institutional investors. Judges highlighted the company's successful transformation into a scalable technology platform, strong recurring revenues and investment in AI-enabled analytics, which are supporting continued growth and product innovation. Medium: Noventis Safety, backed by Inflexion, was chosen as the winner in the Medium category. Based in Herfordshire, Noventis Safety is a global provider of test and measurement solutions for the fire protection industry, serving customers in more than 100 countries. Judges praised the company's impressive growth, successful acquisition strategy and commitment to innovation, including the development of connected testing technologies that are transforming safety testing processes worldwide. Large: Nucleus Financial Platforms, backed by HPS and Epiris was chosen as the winner in the Large category. Nucleus is based in Salisbury and is one of the UK's leading independent investment and retirement platform groups. The judging panel commended the company's successful technology transformation, strong market position and ability to create value through strategic acquisitions. Exit: Intragen, backed by FPE, was chosen as the winner in the Exit category. Intragen is a leading European cybersecurity specialist focused on Identity and Access Management. Judges were impressed by the company's transformation from a regional provider into a pan-European market leader, driven by strong organic growth, strategic acquisitions and the delivery of a highly successful exit. International Expansion (joint winners): Electric Theatre Collective, backed by Growth Capital Partners, was chosen as a winner in the International Expansion category. Electric Theatre Collective is an award-winning creative studio working with some of the world's leading brands. Judges highlighted the company's successful expansion into the United States through the launch of a fully operational New York studio, which has significantly increased its international reach while maintaining its reputation for creative excellence. International Expansion (joint winners): MPB, backed by Beringea, was chosen as a joint winner in the International Expansion category. MPB is the world's leading platform for buying, selling and trading used photography and videography equipment, based out of Brighton. Judges praised the company's successful international growth, with operations spanning Europe and North America, and its ability to combine strong commercial performance with a commitment to sustainability through its circular business model.

FNZ

Nov 12th, 2025

FNZ Secures $650M for Growth Plan

FNZ has raised $650 million from its major institutional shareholders and clients to support its long-term business plan. The investment, from entities like La Caisse, CPP Investments, and Motive Partners, reflects confidence in FNZ's strategy and leadership. With $2.1 trillion in assets on its platform, FNZ aims to enhance its technology and client outcomes. The funding supports FNZ's credit ratings and strategic growth, following new partnerships and governance improvements.

Nucleus Group

Business Architect

About the job